Social / Emotional

Children 3-8 months generally are able to do the following:

• Enjoys social play (e.g., knocking down blocks, smiling during interactions) 
• Responds to other people’s expressions of emotion (e.g., may sympathy cry when a peer is upset) 
• Makes extended eye contact 
• Uses a social smile in relevant situations 
• Enjoys playing with other people and may cry when playing stops 
• Signals when interaction should stop (e.g., frown, turn away, cry)
• Regulates and adjusts to caregiving new routines: sleeping, eating, napping 
• Imitates simple facial expressions (e.g., sticking out tongue) 
• Interacts with and shows interest in peers 
• Shows affection to a familiar person (e.g., smiling unprompted, starting to give snuggles/hugs) 
• Shows emotions in facial expressions (e.g., smiling or frowning their brow)